Shane Lowry and Brooks Koepka, two of the most recognizable names on the PGA Tour, were unable to make the cut at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, missing it by a single stroke. Their early exit came after a promising start, but the pair ultimately fell short of the nine‑under‑par threshold needed to continue into the weekend rounds. Lowry entered the tournament as a former champion, having captured the Zurich Classic title two years earlier alongside Rory McIlroy. This year, however, McIlroy was not in the field, prompting Lowry to partner with five‑time major winner Brooks Koepka.
The new duo began the competition with a solid four‑ball round of 66 on Thursday, followed by a respectable foursomes 69 on Friday. After the first two rounds they sat at nine under par, just one shot away from the cut line, which was set at ten under. While Lowry and Koepka struggled to maintain that momentum, the Fitzpatrick brothers – Matt and his younger sibling Alex – surged forward.
On Friday the English pair posted a blistering seven‑under‑par 65, propelling them into a share of second place after 36 holes. Their performance was matched by the American team of Alex Smalley and Hayden Springer, who closed their round with consecutive birdies to finish at 70, moving them to 16 under par and giving them a one‑stroke advantage over the Fitzpatricks and two other leading teams. Going into the third round, Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick were six shots behind Smalley and Springer. Yet they responded with the day’s lowest round, trimming the deficit to a single stroke heading into Saturday’s final foursomes session.
A victory in New Orleans would cap an extraordinary few months for the Fitzpatrick family. Matt, who recently climbed to third in the Official World Golf Rankings, has already claimed two PGA Tour titles – the Valspar Championship and last week’s RBC Heritage, where he defeated world number one Scottie Scheffler in a dramatic playoff.
Alex, meanwhile, secured his first DP World Tour triumph at the Hero Indian Open in March, confirming that both brothers are in peak form. The leaderboard after the second round also featured Davis Thompson and Austin Eckroat, as well as Billy Horschel and Tom Hoge, all tied at 15 under par and sharing the second‑place position with the Fitzpatricks.
Englishman Aaron Rai, paired with American Sahith Theegala, sat at 12 under, while compatriots Matt Wallace and Marco Penge were just one shot behind at 11 under. The Zurich Classic is unique on the PGA Tour as the sole team‑based event. The competition begins with a four‑ball format for the first and third rounds, where each player plays their own ball and the lower score on each hole counts for the team. The second and final rounds shift to a foursomes (alternate‑shot) format, requiring teammates to share a single ball and alternate shots throughout the round.
After 36 holes the top 33 teams and any ties advance to the weekend, and if a tie persists after 72 holes a sudden‑death playoff determines the champion. This year’s tournament carries added significance because the Tour has increased the prize purse from $9.2 million to $9.5 million. The winning pair will split roughly 14.45 percent of that pool – about $1.372 million each – and each player will earn 400 FedExCup points. Although no Official World Golf Ranking points are awarded, the champions will gain entry into several marquee events for the 2027 season, including the Players Championship and the PGA Championship, and they will enjoy an exemption to compete in the Zurich Classic for the next two years.
In summary, Lowry and Koepka’s early exit was a disappointment given their strong opening rounds, but the tournament remains wide open. The Fitzpatrick brothers are poised to capitalize on their recent hot streak, while other contenders such as Smalley & Springer, Thompson & Eckroat, and Horschel & Hoge are all within striking distance. The weekend promises high‑stakes golf, with a larger purse, valuable FedExCup points, and future tournament exemptions all on the line for the teams that can navigate the demanding switch between four‑ball and alternate‑shot formats and emerge victorious.